The steering for the Bronco and Wrangler are intentinally designed the way they are. I think both are going after a different goal. After driving both I don't think many would argue the Bronco has better on-road steering feel and the Wrangler is better off-road. The Bronco is like driving any other pick up or suv. Very good on-road. The Bronco is soft and disconnected compared to a BMW suv but has MUCH better steering feel than a Wrangler on highways.
Until I drive a Bronco, I cannot say for sure how big the difference is. But yes, IFS typically is a better, tighter feeling driving experience.
IFS and rack and pinion steering will always provide a better, more car like drive on road. A solid axle gives up street comfort and handling for articulation, simplicity, and ease of modification. It's simply the nature of the different suspensions. If you want a street Cruiser that can still wheel, the Bronco may be the better choice. If you're more concerned with the off road performance, although the jl is still great on road compared to a tj or even a jk, the Wrangler is the better choice.
There is signifigant difference for sure. IFS makes a difference but I think a lot of the steering difference is the Bronco's rack-in-pinion verses the Wranglers steering box. Ford learned from the Raptor and other products they make.
Tell you what isn't hanging low - that passenger front wheel.Holy low hanging fruit Batman!
Puts a real strain on the drive train when not required.
Yep I used to to run this in my first TJ which was open front and rear without issue. I do use my lockers up there now, because I have them and I feel that I'm less likely to spin a tire and tear up the trail anymore than necessary. I haven't been up there this year, but unless something has dramatically changed any Jeep can get through this trail. The worst part truly is that rock right at the beginning but with spotting and careful driving you can get through it. Andre did not do a good job of going over it (too much speed IMO).
That section where the bronco is flexed out is fairly steep, it's right after a switch back so not much room for a run up. I'm sure someone could get through there in 2wd, but it wouldn't be a graceful walk up it. My 2 doors lift tires there. I am curious about the differences in wheelbase on the JLU and the Bronco 4 door, I would've liked to have seen where the rear tires were. Honestly I'm kind of disappointed that they ran Red Cone on a Sunday. It's a busy trail, you can see people constantly around them, and I feel that they may have rushed some of the shots to get out of the way of other trail users. Nice of them to not hold people up, but had they ran it on a week day it would have been more quiet up there for them to take time getting more shots. I believe they ran Wheeler on Monday, that should be a great video as it is a more difficult trail than Red Cone.
It's totally an issue (feature?) of solid axles. Some trails, maybe many trails, I would like to have at least IFS to help smooth that out some, but I really do like solid axles for their strength, articulation, and relatively low cost to repair/replace/lift. I don't know that I'm going to run out to replace my JL with a Bronco anytime soon, but I am certainly paying attention to it. Super excited that they're starting to show up in CO now so I can watch them on trails I know.
All vehicles cause washboard. My theory on it is anything travel faster than say 4 mph when a bump is hit the tire displaces loose material which quickly starts to pile up near by. This then just continues to replicate itself over and over. The rhythm of the washboard will be related to the average speed of vehicles on the road. Traveling fast enough you can "skip" along the top of the washboard, smoothing out the ride for yourself. But if the rhythm of that washboard changes, or if the peaks get higher/lower, you're crashing your tire and suspension into the washboard rather than skipping along the top until you find the correct speed again. For myself, it depends on the road and how safe I feel it is to be going at the speed necessary to skip along the top. I either go very slowly through washboard, or fast enough to skip along. I always slow down for oncoming traffic though, both for their visibility and to hopefully not pepper them with gravel.
Yes a stock JLU can make it up there without damage. Of course you stand a chance of damaging something, it is a tight spot, but just take it slowly and carefully and it's not an issue. If you go on the weekend it's a busy trail, so if you don't have a spotter you'll likely have someone else there who would be willing to help. The top of red cone is a great view (it'll be windy, and seems to always rain on me when I'm there). Going down the backside is what Red Cone is known for. Used to be challenging but in modern vehicles it's a non-issue. Steep, but keep it in 4 low use your hill descent if you like, it's not as dramatic as some books would have you believe. It drops you out onto the top of Webster pass. Great view from there as well. Take a left down some narrow switch backs and it's an easy trail back to where you started Red Cone (the snow that blocks the way should be gone by now). Or go straight/right, stay pointed down hill and it's an easy trail down to Montezuma and eventually Keystone, there is a nice creek crossing as you get to the end. If you're feeling frisky right after the first creek crossing you head straight/left/uphill and almost immediately you get to where TFL has done some other videos. Keep going that way and you're on Radical Hill which is a more difficult trail with very narrow switch backs that end in a steep climb putting you back up on the tundra. There is almost always mountain goats there. Several ways off that mountain, all of which are pretty easy (other than back down Radical Hill) and drop you back into Montezuma/Keystone as well. I forget the trail names up there, Saints John is one of them its the longer way out, but it's scenic. From Keystone I recommend find your way to Dillon, stop in at the Dam Brewery for good food and drinks before jumping on I-70 and TFL's Ike Gauntlet (which I believe currently is under construction).
Not sure. Lockers would help. But I’ve never seen anyone without a lift and 37s do it. It’s harder for 4-doors too. I think departure angle would be a problem without a lift.
So I sat down and watched the video last night. Depressed because the tires I used to have on the jeep were the same as the ones on the Land Rover. I also had to replace two of them for flats, just not off road.
Great video, as usual.
SPOILER ALERT!
The Defender's 20" wheels see two flat tires within about 50 yards. Gets left for dead. Womp womp.
The Bronco is noticeably bigger than the Wrangler, can't choose its lines as carefully due to its size, and doesn't articulate as well.
The 4xe puts in a strong showing by running battery only for 3.1 miles of very gnarly trail. With 35s on the Wrangler, it clearly would have been the walk-away winner. The Bronco seems like a great competitor, but...
MEGA SPOILER ALERT! Tommy drops an F-bomb.
Sign me up too! I've been wanting to try out Daniel but only if someone that's done it before is there too.
These pictures say everything I need to know. Nothing beats tires on the ground getting traction.. Ford claims greater articulation than Jeep, but this is the real world, not a ramp.Articulation. Same obstacle, with the swaybar disconnected on both vehicles.
The IFS system it has is 1/3 of what actual off road vehicles use. It's like a hybrid solid axle combined with IFS. In it's case, the worst of both worlds in the off road realm. You cannot setup enough travel with such short arms to take any of those whoops at respectable speeds. Bumpy trails, sure, no problem.
